The Long Āgama Sūtra 28.47

28.47

「梵志！彼沙門、婆羅門亦復如是，無有真實。梵志！猶如有人立梯空地，餘人問言：『立梯用為？』答曰：『我欲上堂。』又問：『堂何所在？』答曰：『不知。』云何，梵志！彼立梯者豈非虛妄耶？」

“Wanderer, that ascetic or priest would be likewise. He isn’t being honest. Wanderer, it would be like someone who builds a ladder on empty ground. Someone else asks him, ‘What’s the purpose of building a ladder here?’

“He answers, ‘I want to ascend to the meeting hall.’

“Again, he’s asked, ‘Where’s this meeting hall?’

“He answers, ‘I don’t know.’

“How is it, wanderer? Wouldn’t building that ladder be based on a deception?”